Stripper plate construction for conveyer furnaces



Oct. l0, 1950 F. T. COPE STRIPPER PLATE'coNsTRUcTIoN FOR coNvEYER FURNAcEs Filed July 11, i945 F. T. COPE Oct. 10, 1950 STRIPPER PLATE-CONSTRUCTION FORv CONVEYER FURNACES s sheets-sheet z (It megs Filed July 1l,n 1945 mz'wpe WWW Oct. 10, 1950 F. T. COPE 2,525,286

STRIPPER 'PLATE CONSTRUCTION FOR c'oNvEYER FuRNAcEs .Filed July 11, 1945 l 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 n :snvemr Fran/f Z'ape Oct. l0, 1950 F. T. coPE STRIPPER PLATE'CONSTRUCTION FOR CONVEYER FURNACES 6 Sheets-Shea?l 5 Fig 7' Filed' July ,11, 1.945

m Flalz e Oct. 10, 1950 F. T. COPE 2,525,286

STRIPPEB PLATE coNsTRUcTIoN FOR coNvEYER FURNAcEs Filed July 11, 1945 e Asheets-sheet e Fran/f7.' ape Fly 11 E Patented Oct. 10, 1950 STRIPPER PLATE CONSTRUCTION FOR coNvEYna FURNAcEs Frank T. Cope, Salem, Ohio, assigner to The Electric Furnace Company, Salem, Ohio, a cor.

poration of Ohio Application July 11, 1945, Serial No. 604,408

i9 claims. (C1. 214-521) The invention relates to conveyor furnaces and more particularly to an improved stripper plate construction for conveyor furnaces; and the present invention constitutes improvements upon the furnace of the Cope et al. Patent No. 1,919,054 and upon the belt drive conveyor construction of the Cope ,et al. Patent No. 1,930,584.

Flexible articulated conveyor belts are used extensively in heat treating furnaces wherein many shapes, types and kinds' of metal articles are heated and quenched. As the articles move through the furnace on the conveyor Aand reach the discharge end of the conveyor they either drop from the conveyor to a quench tank below, or are stripped from the conveyor by a stripper plate extending to a chute leading to the quench tank.

Frequently, the articles or work pieces are small sized and sdefianges are provided on the flexible articulated `conveyor belt to prevent Athe work pieces from falling from the conveyor belt as they pass through the furnace.

It is necessary that the work pieces be delivered to the quench tank without any distore tion or damage, and small-sized work pieces-ii often are of such size or shape as to be distorted or twisted out of shape if they should drop from the end of `a conveyor into a vquench tank.

Even the provision of a chute leading to a quench tank extending from below the path of belt travel does not prevent damage to the work pieces because when they drop from the conveyor to the chute they may be bent or distorted.

Thus, a substantially continuous platform for the Work pieces is required not only along the conveyor belt but also from the conveyor belt into the quench tank. Such continuous platform means has been provided by utilizing a stripper plate, one end of which rides on a con` veyor belt and the other end of which extends to a chute as in said Patents Nos.Y 1,919,054 and 1,930,584.

However, when small pieces are being heat treated, they frequently jam between the ends I of stripper plate sections and the ends of belt linkswhere the stripper plates ride on and eX- tend from the conveyor belt. Moreover, side flanges on the belt are usually Yformed by over lapping ange members on adjacent links at the edges of the belt. Frequently, small work pieces will jam between the corners of the stripper platesv and the belt side anges where they open up in passing around a belt supporting drum. Sometimes, a defective or broken. belt 'link .may

catch on the edge of a stripper plate to cause jamming.

The occurrence ofl such jamming `of work pieces may not only damage the work pieces but may cause extensive damage to the conveyor belt, the stripper plate means, or the conveyor drive mechanism, unless conveyor movement is immediately stopped.

Moreover, for the same reason that side flanges are desirable if not lnecessary on the conveyor belt, it is also desirable to provide side flange means located at the outer edges of the stripper plates in order to preventwork pieces from dropping into the furnace, asv they pass along the stripper plates to the chute.

These jamming difficulties occurring at the stripper plate extending from a continuous heat treating furnace conveyor have presented a difficult and complex problem.

Accordingly, it is a primary'object of the present invention to eliminate jamming difficulties in the operation of a conveyor furnace having a stripper plate associated with. the discharge end of the conveyor.k l

Furthermore,l it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stripper plate construction for' conveyor furnaces.

Likewise, it is an object of the present inven# tion to provide an improved stripper plate construction cooperatively associated with the discharge end of a lheat treating furnace conveyor for handling small work pieces and having conveyor side iianges.

Also, it is an .object of the present invention to -prov-ide an improved stripper plate construction for conveyor furnaces with ange means leading from the conveyor to a discharge chute and located along the side edges of the stripper plate.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present linvent-ion to provide a stripper plate construction for Va-conveyor furnace so constructed and rence of ammi-ng to .stop the conveyor drive.

and

The conveyor and stripper plate of necessity must be located within the heating chamber of a heat treating furnace when carrying out a heat treating operation; and elements such as switches actuated by movement of the stripper plate should be located outside of the furnace. These factors further complicate the problem.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor control mechanism of extremely simplified design extending from within the heating chamber when the furnace conveyor is operated tocarry out a heat treating operation. Considerable expansion and contraction of the parts of the conveyor, stripper plate and control mechanism may occur when the parts are heated or cooled, as the case may be; and this factor further complicates the problem.

Accordingly, it is necessary in some instances to provide means for centering the belt suspension drum laterally of the furnace chamber at the discharge end of the conveyor so as to insure proper coordination between the stripper plate, the conveyor belt, and the control mechanism actuated by the stripper plate.

Therefore, it is a further object of the present invention to provide means for centering a belt suspension drum for a driven belt in a conveyor furnace.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide means operative irrespective of expansion of parts for automatically centering a belt suspension drum laterally of a furnace in a belt conveyor for a heat treating furnace.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new stripper plate construction for conveyor furnaces which is simple in construction, durable, precise, effective and accurate in operation; which overcomes the foregoing prior art difficulties and solves problems existing in the art; and which incorporates one or more or all of the foregoing advantages and desiderata.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difculties overcome, by the devices, constructions, arrangements, combinations, Subcombinations, parts and elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the lappended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improvements in stripper plate construction for conveyor furnaces of the Y present invention may be stated in general terms as preferably including in a furnace, a conveyor 4 belt for carrying articles to be heated, stripper plate means adjacent the discharge end of the belt for removing articles from the belt, drive means for the conveyor, control means for the drive means, means mounting the stripper plate means for movement upon the occurrence of jamming of work pieces between the conveyor belt and stripper plate means, means for actuating the control means upon movement of the stripper plate means; the conveyor including a belt suspension drum adjacent'the stripper plate means, preferably means for automatically centering said drum laterally of the furnace irrespective of expansion incident to thermal changes; a chute cooperatively associated with the stripper plate means and leading to a quench tank, and preferably yieldingly adjustable flange means associated with the stripper plate means extending from the discharge end of the conveyor belt to the chute..

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the improved stripper plate construction for conveyor furnaces is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side Velevation of a conveyor furnace and associated quenching apparatus incorporating the improvements of 'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, with parts broken away, of the furnace illustrated in Fig. 1 equipped with the improved stripper plate construction;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the furnace looking in the direction of the arrows 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 3 taken along the rock shaft of the stripper plate switch operating mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrows 4 4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of one side of the discharge end of the furnace looking in the direction of the arrows 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section looking in the direction of the arrows 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section looking in the direction of the arrows 1 1, Fig. 4 illustrating the improved stripper plate and rock shaft construction;

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view of the stripper plate construction looking in the direction of the arrows 8 8, Fig. 7 Y

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section illustrating the support means for the side flanges associated with the Stripper plate looking in the direction of the arrows 9 9, Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of Fig. 7 illustrating the operation of the stripper plate rock shaft when it has been actuated by movement of the stripper plate; and

Fig. l1 is a wiring diagram illustrating the operation of the stripper plate means to control the operation of the furnace drive motor.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

A heat treating furnace equipped with the improved stripper plate construction is indicated generally at l in Figs. l and 2 and the furnace I may include a refractory floor or bottom wall 2, side walls 3, a roof or arch 4, a charging opening 5 normally closed by a door 6, and a discharge chute 'l leading to a quench tank equipped with a discharge conveyor generally indicated at S.

Although any type` of lbelt conveyor may be used within the furnace l, preferably a flexible articulated conveyor belt construction such as illustrated in Patents Nos. 1,919,054 and 1,930,584 is provided, including a chain belt generally indicated at I0, looped around suspension or support drums II' and l2, respectively at the charging and discharging ends of the furnace. Either or both of the support drums II and I2 may be driven to move the conveyor belt I in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig. 2.

Support rolls I3, preferably driven, may be mounted below the upper or work-carrying reach or run of the belt i0. A metal return supporting guide I4 may be provided on the furnace floor 2 for supporting the lower or return reach or run of the belt IU.

The furnace i may be heated by any desired t means, radiant tube heaters I being indicated in the drawing. The conveyor belt I0, and preferably thc support rolls I3 may be driven by any suitable means such as a motor I5 driving a crank shaft I'I through reduction gears in housings I8 and I9 which imparts oscillating movement to the pivoted lever through connecting rod 2I, to reciprocate driver bars 22 and 23. Pawls 24 and 25 are mounted, respectively on. driver bars 22 and 23 engaging a ratchet gear 26 mo-unted on the shaft of one of the support drums, such as the discharge end support drum I2. Similar pawlsy not shown, may be associated with the upper driver bar 23 to, intermittently continuouslyrotate the support rolls I3.

Referring to Fig. 3, the discharge end belt support drum I2 is provided at each end with an axle shaft portion 21 extending through openings 28 in the furnace side walls 3 and journalledin '-c bearings 39 mounted exteriorly of the furnace. The outer ends 3E) of the shafts 2l are engaged by swivels SI mounted intermediate the ends of levers 32. The upper` ends of levers 32 are pivoted at 33 to flxed pivot pins mounted upon the furnace structure equidistant from the longitudinal center plane of the furnace I. The lower ends of levers 32 are pivotally connected at 34 with tie rods 35; and the inner ends of tie rods 35 are pivotally connected at 3S to the outer ends of link arm 3l pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 38 on bracket means 39 mounted on the furnace structure below the furnace bottom wall 2, with the central pivot point 38 of link arm 3'I located in the longitudinal center plane of the furnace I.

A lever 40 is xed to the same pivot shaft 38 to which link arm 3'! is fixed, and a weight 4I is suspended from the outer end of lever arm 40.

The operation of the link and lever System 32 to 4I is such that the swivels 3l engaging the shaft ends 30 are always equidistant from the longitudinal center plane .of the furnace so as to automatically center the support drum I2 within the furnace. Upon expansion or contraction of the drum I2 and its shaft portions 21, vdue to heating or cooling, the swivels SI may move away or toward the longitudinal center plane of the furnace, raising or lowering weight 4I; but such vmovement is uniform at each shaft end .3.0 so as plates 42 are also supported on'a cross rod 44 to be later described, spaced lugs 45 being provided on the underside of each stripper plate 42 engaging the cross rod 44.

The lower ends 46 of the stripper plates 42 overlap and are telescoped within a chute extension 4l mounted within the furnace and extending to the chute member 43 connected to the chute I leading into the quench tank 8. The end stripper plates 42a may be provided with upstanding side flanges 49 which also telescope within the chute extension el (Fig. 8)Y and chain guard plates 50 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) extend from the discharge end of the conveyor belt I5 within the stripper plate side flanges 49 and into the chute extension 41 to keep work pieces from dropping into the furnace as they pass from the conveyor belt I Il along the stripper plates l2 and into chute 1. Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the conveyor belt I0 is provided with side angesI, the top of the side anges 5I being diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 'l by the line 5Id and the top of the conveyor surface of the belt being indicated diagrammatically in Fig. '7 by the line 5Ib.

The chain guard plates 55 are preferably mounted on spring-pressed rods 52 extending throughthe furnace side walls 3 to the spring tensioning means 53 which may be adjusted by adjusting screws 54 to press the chain guard plates 50 inward against the side flanges 5I of the conveyor belt II). The conveyor belt as prebelt constructed of links as illustrated in Patents Nos. 1,919,054 and 1,930,584, and the side edges of f the belt, due to the link construction, are not uniformly flat or smooth. Moreover, expansion and contraction of the parts, due to heating and cooling, may change the location of the side edges of the conveyor belt I0 laterally of the furnace. The yielding mounting 52-54 for the chain guards 50 permits the chain guards 50 to accommodate themselves to these conditions.

Referring to Figs. 4, 7 and 10, the rod 44 engaged by the lugs 45 of the stripper plates 42 and which support the stripper plates 42, is nxedly mounted on a bar 55 which in turn is fixedly mounted on tubular shaft 55. One end 5l of shaft 53 is journalled in the sleeve 58 mounted in one furnace side wall 3 and the other end of shaft 55 kextends through a sleeve 59mounted in the other furnace sidewall 3. The latter shaft end 50 is journalled in a bearing 5I mounted ex teriorly of the furnace, and a lever 62 is fixed to the end 50 of the rock shaft 5G. A counterweight rod 63 is pivoted to the outer end of lever 52 and suspends counterweight 04 therefrom; downward movement of lever 62 (Fig. 5) being limited by stop member 65.

When the lever 32 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 resting on stop member 55, the counterweight 64 holdsthrough the engagement of rock shaft cross-rod i4 with stripper plates l2-the stripper plates 42 in the normal position illustrated in Fig. 7. A switch knocker rod 65 pivoted to lever 52 extends downward through guide 51 and engages the plunger of limit switch 59. `The limit switch 59 is'rh'eld in on position when the parts are located as illustrated in Fig. 5 with the lever 52 engaging stop member 65.

Upon movementvof any stripper plate 42 or 42a downward toward chute extension 41, or toward the discharge end ofthe furnace, 'rock shaft 56 is rotated in the direction of the arrows appearing in Figs. 5 and 7, raising counterweight B4g`a'nd switch knocker rod 66 is thus lifted to actuate switch 69 to olf position.

The sleeve 59l is shaped in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 6 so as to permit ready assembly, adjustment and withdrawal of the rock shaft 56 with its integral bar 55 and rod 44 from the interior of the furnace.

A wiring diagram for the conveyor and control mechanism appears in Fig. l1 with the parts in the position that they assume when the conveyor is running. Line wires 'I8 extend from a source of power to furnace drive motor starter ll, and from starter 'Il through wires 'I2 to conveyor drive motor i6. Control line wire I3 runs to division point 74 of limit switch 69, then through wire 'I5 to contact 16, through one pole 'Il of limit switch 69 and wire I8 to start-stop push-button controller T9. Two wires 8B lead from the controller 'I8 to a solenoid of motor starter ll, and wire 8| leads to the other control line wire y82.

When movement of stripper plate 42 raises switch knocker rod 66 to permit limit switch 69 to move to olf position, power is supplied 'through control line wire 'I3 to division point 14, then to contact 83 and through the other pole 84 of limit switch 69 to wire 85 and through a signal, such as a lamp or bell 86, to the other control line wire 82. The establishment of the circuit just described cuts out power supply through push-button controller 'I9 and relay within furnace drive motor starter 1| to break the line supply power to furnace drive motor I6, so that furnace drive motor I5 is stopped.

In the operation of the conveyor furnace equipped with the improved stripper plate construction, work pieces to be heated are fed to the conveyor belt through charging opening 5 and advance on the conveyor belt IU through the furnace and are heated therein to the desired temperature. VAs they reach the discharge end of the conveyor belt I0, the stripper plates 42 strip them from the conveyor belt and they slide along the stripper plates 42, into chute 'I and quench tank 8, from which they are removed by conveyor 9. v

Small work pieces may at times jam between the links of the conveyor belt IG and sections of the stripper plate, or between vthe side flanges 5I of the belt links and corners of the stripper plate sections 42a; or a defectivel or broken belt link may jam the stripper plates. When such jamming occurs, the movement of the belt through the jammed parts moves the particular stripper plate 42 or 42a involved, longitudinally of the stripper plate downward toward the chute 'I or toward the discharge end of the furnace I. This movement of any stripper plate section is transmitted to the rock shaft 56 to rotate the same in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 5 and '7, thus raising Switch knocker rod B'so as to actuate limit switch 69 to stop the drive to conveyor motor I6 and give a visible or audible signal that jamming within the furnace has 0ccurred. Accordingly, the occurrence of jamming cannot damage any of the mechanism since movement of the conveyor belt is stopped. The operator, through access openings in the furnace Walls may then correct the difficulty, after which the conveyor may be started. v

Thus, the improved vconstruction provides a limit switch controlling operation of the conplates Vwhich actuate the limit switch are displaced out of normal position upon the occur'- rence of jamming by the movement of the conveyor belt transmitted thereto through the jammed piece. In the embodiment of the invention shown, thisl movement of the stripper plate which actuates the limit switch is longitudinal.

The rock shaft operated by movement of the stripper plate to actuate the limit switch has'a simplified construction and can be readily adjusted and repaired; and the same is held in normal position to hold the stripper plates in proper position for stripping work pieces from the conveyor, by the counterweight G4 suspended from rock shaft lever 62.

While it is not essential for proper operation of the stripper plate construction to provide the means for automatically centering the belt suspension drum at the discharge end of the conveyor, it is desirable to provide some centering means because, in the absence of such a provision, a much greater clearance space must be left between the outer edges of the outer stripper plate sections 42a and the adjacent nanges 5| on the conveyor belt.

Thus, if the belt drum is anchored at one end, when the furnace is heated, expansion of the drum wil1 accumulate at the other end of the drum and the clearance space between the stripper plates and belt flanges must be such as to take care of such accumulated expansion. On the other hand, if limit stops are mounted in the furnace walls for the ends of the belt drum shaft, they may properly center the drum when r heated, but they will not center theldrum when cold, as when the conveyor is being run for installation and adjustment test purposes.

However, with the use of the improved automatic centering mechanism for the belt drum which centers the same irrespective of expansion thereof, the conveyor may be run and adjusted hot Vor cold with minimum clearance for the stripper plates, thus reducing to a minimum the likelihood of jamming.

Accordingly, the present improvements provide a construction which enables small-sized work pieces to be heat treated and delivered from the conveyor furnace to a quenching tank without any distortion or damage; provides a construction in which any jamming of work pieces between a conveyor and stripper plates automatically stops the conveyor drive; provides a conveyor control mechanism of extremely simplified design which may be readily installed, linspected, adjusted and repaired; provides a centering mechanism for any belt suspension drum of a conveyor belt furnace; provides a construction which overcomes the described prior art difficulties and solves problems existing in the art; and provides a construction which incorporates l one or more or all of the stated objects and adveyor drive motor that responds to movement vantages.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessarylimitations are to be imlplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are utilized for descriptive purposes herein and not for the purpose of limitation, and `are intended to` ,be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated .and described is by way of example and the scope of the Ipresent invention is not limited to the vexact details of construction of the various parts.

Having now described the features of the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment of improved stripper plate construction for conveyor furnace, and the advantageous, new and useful results attained thereby; the new and useful devices, constructions, arrangements, combinations, subcombinations, parts and elements, and reason-able mechanical equivalents thereof, obvious to those skilled in the art, are set .forth yin the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a furnace, belt conveyor means including a belt support drum having' a shaft at the dis'- charge end of the conveyor means; drive .means for the conveyor means, movably mounted -stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, means located externally of the furnace actuated by -movement -of the stripper plate means to stop said drive means, sur

and means operatively engaging the ends of the drum shaft for centering the belt support drum laterally of the stripper plate means.

2. In a furnace, belt conveyor means including a belt support drum at the discharge end of the conveyor means, movably mounted stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, and means for automatically centering the belt drum laterally of the stripper plate means while permitting expansion or contraction thereof.

3. In a furnace, belt conveyor means including a belt support drum at the discharge end of the conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, movably mounted stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, means located externally of the furnace actuated by movement of the stripper plate means to stop said dr-ive means, and means for automatically centering the belt drum laterally of the stripper plate means while permitting expansion or contraction thereof.

4. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means associated with Vthe discharge end of Ythe conveyor means, means mounting said Ystripper plate means for longitudinal movement away from said belt, and said mounting .means including means located externally of the furnace actuated by movement of the stripper plate means to stop said drive means.

5. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, rock shaft means movably supporting said stripper plate means, and control means located externally of the furnace and for said drive means actuated by movement of 'said rock shaft means upon movement of the'stripper plate means to stop belt movement.

6. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means mounted for longitudinal movementrelative to the belt adjacent the discharge end of the belt, one end of the stripper plate means lbeing normally supported by the article-carrying `surface of the belt, a rock shaftbelow the stripper plate means supporting another portion thereof, inter-engaging means between the rock shaft and stripper plate means for rotating said shaft upon movement of the stripper plate means, and control means for said drive means located externally of the furnace actuated by said rock shaft upon rotation thereof.

'7. In a furnace, flanged belt conveyor means,

per plate means extending from the belt flanges to said chute, and .means located externally of the .furnace and actuated by movement of the stripper plate means to stop said drive means.

8. In afurnace, flanged belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, a chute,

movably mounted stripper plate means extending between the .discharge `end yof the conveyor means and said chute, flange means .associated With-the stripper plate means extending ,from the belt` flanges to said chute, means yieldi-n-.gly mounting said flange means to maintain the flange vlflrans in engagement with the `belt .iangesyand means located externally of the furnace and actuated by movement of the stripper plate means .tostpp said drive means. l

9. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, furnace .side walls, rock shaft means removably ,journalled Ain said side walls movably supporting said stripper plate means, and control .means for .said `drive `rnean located externally of the furnace and actuated by movement of said rock shaft means upon movement of the stripper plate means to stop belt movement.

10. In a conveyor furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the 'conveyor means,

stripper plate means mounted f or longitudinal movement relative vto the belt `adjacent the discharge end of the belt, rock shaft means beneath 1 the stripper plate means supporting `the .stripper plate means, interengaging means between Athe rock shaft and stripperplate means for rotating said shaft upon movement of the stripper `plate means, furnace -side walls, means rjournalling said rock shaft means ,in said side .walls with one end of the rock shaft-extending through one furnace wall, limit switch .meanscontrolling operation of the drive means, and means carried. by said one rock shaft end for l.actuating `said limit switch uponrotation ofsaid rockshaft by movement of the stripper .plate means to stop .belt

movement. Y

l1. In a furnace, .belt conveyor means rincluding a belt supporting `drum -at the discharge end of the conveyor means, Y d1-ive means forv the conveyor means, movably .mounted stripper plate means associated with the 4.discharge .end of the conveyor means, means .for centering the belt support drum laterally of the stripper .plate means, rock shaft means movably supporting said stripper plate means, and ,controlmeans for said drive means actuated by movement of saidrock shaft means upon movement of thestripperplate means to stop belt movement.

12. In a furnace, belt conveyormeans including a belt supporting drum at .the dischargeend of the conveyor means, drivemeans for the conveyor means, a chute, movably mounted stripper plate means extending between ,the Ychute ,and the discharge end of the conveyor means, means for centering the belt support drum laterally of the stripper plate means, rock shaft means movably supporting said stripper means, control means for said drive means actuated by movement of said rock shaft means upon movement of the stripper plate means to stop belt movement, and flange means associated with the 11 stripper plate means-extending from the `discharge endof the conveyor to said chute..

13. In a furnace having furnace walls, belt conveyorrmeans within the furnace, drive means for the conveyor means exterior of the furnace walls, a chute within the furnace extending angularly downward and spaced from the discharge end of the conveyor means, a oating movably mounted stripper plate extending tangentially of and angularly downward from the discharge end of the belt to said chute and having one edge normally supported by the article carrying surface of said belt, means mounting the stripper plate for movement longitudinally of the stripper plate and chute, control means exterior of the furnace for said drive means, and means extending through said furnace wallsoperated byV movement of the stripper plate-means actuating the control means to stop said drivemeans.

14.-In a furnace having furnace walls, belt conveyor means within the furnace, drive means for the conveyor means exterior of the furnace walls, stripper plate means within the furnace associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, shaft means supporting the stripper plate means for relative rocking movement, and means extending through the furnace walls actuated byY such rocking movement upon movement of the stripper plate to stop said drive means.

15. In a furnace having furnace walls, belt conveyor means within the furnace including a belt supporting drum at the discharge end of the conveyor means, drive means exterior of the furnace walls for the conveyor means, a chute within the furnace, movably mounted stripper plate means within the furnace extending between the chute and the discharge end of the conveyor means, means exterior of the furnace walls for centering the belt support drum laterally of the stripper plate means, shaft means supporting the stripper plate means for relative rocking movement of the shaft means, control means exterior of the furnace walls for said drive means actuated by said rocking movementV upon movement of the stripper plate means to stop belt movement, and flange means associated with the stripper plate means extending from the discharge end of the conveyor to said chute.

16. In a furnace having furnace walls, beltV conveyor means within the furnace including a belt supporting drum at the discharge end of the conveyor means, drive means exterior of the furnace walls for the conveyor means, a chute within the furnace, movably mountedV stripper plate means within the furnace extending between the chute and the discharge end of the conveyor means, means exterior of the furnace walls for centering the belt support drum laterally of the stripper plate means, shaft means supporting the stripper plate means for relative rocking movement, control means exterior of the furnace walls for said vdrive means actuated by said rocking movement upon movement of the stripper plate means to stop belt movement,

.ange means associated with the stripper plate means extending from the discharge end of the conveyor to said chute, and means yieldingly I2 mounting said flange means on the furnace walls to maintain the flange means in engagement with the conveyor belt.

17 In a furnace having furnace walls, belt conveyor means within the furnace, drive means for the conveyor means exterior of the furnace` walls, stripper plate means within the furnace associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means including a plurality of stripper plate sections, each stripper plate section being con-` structed and arranged to be displaced by travel of the belt upon jamming between the conveyor means and any stripper plate section, means within the furnace movably mounting said stripper plate sections, control means exterior of the furnace for the drive means, and said stripper plate mounting means including means extending through the furnace Walls operated by movement of any stripper plate section actuating the control means to stop said drive means.

18. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means associated with vthe discharge end of the conveyor means including a plurality of stripper plate sections, a rock shaft, means on each stripper plate section engaging the rock shaft and movably mounting each stripper plate section thereon constructed and arranged so that any stripper plate section is displaced by travel of the belt upon jamming between the conveyor means and such stripper plate section to rotate said rock shaft, control means for the drive means, and means connected between the rock shaft and said control means operated by. movement of any stripper plate section jto actuate the control means and stop said drive means.

19. In a furnace, belt conveyor means, drive means for the conveyor means, stripper plate means associated with the discharge end of the conveyor means, means mounting said stripper plate means for movement by travel of the belt upon jamming between the conveyor meansV and stripper plate means, control means for the drive means located externally of the furnace, and said d stripper plate mounting means including means operated by movement of the stripper plate means to actuate the control means and stop said drive means. I K 7 FRANK T. COPE.

nnrEnENcnmsY crrisnY The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

